Bottle-capping machine.



J. H. BALTZLBY, JR. BOTTLE OAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22, 1909,

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

4 BHEBTBBHEET 1.

J. H. BALTZLEY, JR. BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATLON FILED nno.22,1eo9.

$72 58 1 Patented Dec. 6, 1910 i SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wwmwwg J. BALTZLEY, JR. BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.22,1909,

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

4/ e 0 myfi may! 1 as 436 x W wue/wtoz J. H. BALTZLEY, JR. BOTTLE UAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEO.22,1909.

9?? 581 Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

4 SHBETSSHEET 4.

El wuoul o wwmmo u I QUZTH KeyCEZ Unirnn s'ra'rns JOHN H. BALTZLEY, .13., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 THEKING CORK & SEAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION 10F THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BOT TLE-CAPPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Application filed December 22, 1909. Serial No. 534.515.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Join" H. BALTZLEY, Jr.. a citizen of the United States residing at Baltimore. State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Capping Machines of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 111 machines for applying caps to bottles.

The object of the invention is to prov de special means operated in a cycle of movement for drawing a cap on the neck ot a bottle, and crimping the edges of the same and arching its top, and subsequently flattening the arched top and thereby tightly compressing the cork into any irregularities in the glass.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for accurately and effectually securing' the caps to the bottles,-

irrespective of their being absolutely perfectly tormed'in height, and in circumferonce at the neck.

Another object of the invention -is to so arrange the parts that the power mechae nisin will at all times travel a definite path of movement. and it an abnormal bottle be insertcd'to receive a cap. the capping mechanism will not crush or destroy it.

Another object of the invention is to provide special means for automatically stopping the'machinc after the capping operation has been completed.

(Ether objects and advantages will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings :-F igure 1. is a perspective view ofmy improved machine. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section of the capping" mechanism. when arranged for manually feeding the caps. Fig. 4 is a similar viewybnt illustrating an automatic cap feed. Fig. 5 is a detail plan View of the head and the standard. parts being broken away. Fig. 6 is a detail viewof the operating plunger. Fig. Tis a detail bottom plane of the month which receives the end of the bottle neck. parts being broken away. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a trip dog or coupling; Fig. 9 is a detail'sectional view on the line a2--rc Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a detail view partially in section of the automatic clutch. 11 is a transverse section of the same on the line y-y, Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail perspecmally pressed inwardly by acoilisp'ring 24'- tive view of the automatic clutch. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the same, partly in sect-ion. Fig. 14 is a detail plan view of the clutch locking pin or dog. Fig. 15 is a view of a bottle cap drawn over the neck of a bottle and the corrugated lower edge crimped. F lg. 16 is a similar view showing the top of the cap flattened. The same numerals refer to like parts in all the figures.

1, indicates a casing comprising a base 2, and hollow standard 3. Extending from the front of the hollow standard is a bracket provided on its end with a' sleeve l, having a set screw Passing through the sleeve is the stem 6, of a bottle support orshelf 7.

Fitted in the upper end of the standard 3, where the bore is slightly enlarged to proride a socket S, is the sleeve or stem 9' are head 10. with a key Way to receive a key 11, held by a set screw 12, and passing through the bore of the sleeve is the upper-end of a rod 13, formed near its top with? a horizontalnotch l4. Clamped to the stein 9, is a bracket'lti; to the outer free end of which is secured a depending cylindrical barrel'16, for carrying the capping mechanism. i

To the lower Qua-er: the barrel is screwed a mouth piece 1?," formed on its underside with a concavity, and in its center with an The sleeve or stem 9 'is formed" opening 18. through which the upper end of 'l I v the neck of the bottle passes.

The mouth piece may be inthe -form shownin Fig.4,orf

that shown in Fig. 3. The mouth piece shown in Fig. at, has communicating with it a chute 19, down Which the caps are automatically t'cd. But. with the construction sho'Wnin.

position. v o Fitting between the "upperside of the Fig. 3, the caps are-, manually'placediin' mouthpiece and an angular flan 'e 20,011 the i interior of the barrel isfa detac able piece 21. This throat piece is provided with.

a central cylindrical openin or. bore '22,. beveled at the ends at 28, and below which are several radially disposed fingers 24 for supporting a cap previous to therinsertion of the bottle. The radial" fingers arenorlocated in a circumferential groove inthe throat piece. The throat; piece" :is" inverted when 'the' antomatic feeder-is used as. .t lie snpportingfiiigers- 25,' a1:e" 'l an oath nicezzes d f t'tiii I vtial steps in the operation beveled tip 34. The hammer or head, 33,'

is normally near the bottom of the opening 22, and its upper side 17s spaced from the bushing 30, to accomplish one of the essenofthe machine, which will be later described.

Sliding lILWiLYS in the upper end of the head 10, is a coupling dog 36, provided with a lug 37, and a countersunk opening 38. One end 39, of the coupling do'g fits into the notch 14, in the rod 13, and the apex of the beveled tip 34 on the plunger 32, is in alinement with and normally spaced from the edge of the-wall-af the countersunk opening 38, as shown in 'Figs. 3 and 4. The coupling dog 35, is forced toward the rod 13 by a pin 40, bearing on the lug 37, and projected by a spring 41.

'Pivotally connected to the lower end of the rod 13, is a link 42, the opposite end of which is pivoted to a crank 43, on a horizontally disposed shaft 44. On the outer end of the shaft 44, is loosely mounted a belt wheel 46, the hub of the same having a notch 47. Fast on the shaft 44, inside the hub is a collar 49 formed with a slot 50, to receive a locking dog 51. The locking dog is curved on its under side to fit snugl 1 on the shaft 4, as best seen in Fig.,11, and at its outer I endit is cut away toform a fiat surface 53,

to engage with the wall 54, of the notch 47. The inclination of the surface 53, is slightly less than the inclination of the wall 54 of the notch 47, so as to rock the dog to cause the edge 55, to bite into the shaft, 44, to securely lock the dog and shaft together. The dog is normally driven outwardly and into the notch 47, by a spring 55, fitting in an opening 56, and bearing against one wall thereof, and pin ,58. On the top side of the dog is cut a transverse groove 59, the wall of at an angle to the length of said which is cut dog as at 60.

Pivotally base 2, is a treadle lever 61, to the rear end of which is pivoted a link 62, formed with a' substantially vertical slot 63, having an olfset or seat 64. One edge 66 of the link 62 is straight, and is arranged in the path of movement of the locking dog, when the machine is operated and is held in this position by a spring 67, coiled around the pivot, and

bearing against said linl.

to abracket extending from a camlever 70, the free end is beveled, and is arranged in Pivoted at 68, the base 2, is 'of which the plane of mediately drops down the supported in bearings in the l the groove 59, the cam lever 70,.has an outwardly extending pin 71, normally supported in the seat 64, and held therein by a spring 72, mounted on the pivot 68 and bearing on the upper side of said lever as shown in Fig. 11.

In operation a cap a is held in the mouth by the radial fingers 24, and a bottle is placed on the shelf or support 7 the upper end of the neck being directly under the mouth 17. Under normal conditions the beveled end 70 of the cam lever is down in engagement with. the notch 47, but when the treadle is depressed, it disengages the cam lever from the groove, and the spring 55 forces the end of the dog into said notch, which causes the shaft 44 to revolve with the wheel 46. In depressing the treadle the seat 64 in the link 62 elevates the pin 71 hence the cam lever, and as the outer surface of the locking dog extends beyond the circumference of the collar 49, it will engage the vertical surface 66, and force said link toward the pivot 68 and thereby disengage the pin 64 from its seat 71. when the pin imvertical slot 63, thereby positioning the beveled end 70 of the cam lever so as to engage the angular dog from its notch, and stop the machine.

The bottle and cap having been positioned, and the treadle depressed, the crank 43, through the medium of the link 42, draws rod 13 and the head 10 downwardly.

forced down over the cap now on'the bottle and bends the corrugations inwardly under the head on the bottle, as shown in Fig. 15. The flaring sides of the cap are simply acted on by the straight walls of the throat piece, which tends to pull the cap down on the upwardly i-n convex form over the interposed plece of cork as shown in Fig. 15, after the cap the metal is'placed under great tension, and has a tendency to spring upwardly, for which purpose it is necessary to flattenit to make it secure, as will now be described.

About the time the Walls of the opening in the throat piece have completely com} pressed the crimps or corrugation under the the hammer head 33, contacts with the bushing 30, and the spring 32 is placed under compression and the apex of the tapered tip 34 contacts with the wallof-the countersunk opening 38 which acts "as an abutment to retard the movement of'the plunger 32 and'as the entire head 10, is still moving down, pressure isappli'ed by the coupling directly on the top of the cap. This pressure is gradual, owing to the beveled wall of the opening 38, and the pointed end of wall 60,.of the groove 59, to withdraw the- As the head descends the throat piece isis drawn down over. the bottle;

flange on the neck of the bottle, the top 'of the groove 59, and holds the dog 51 out of bottle neck and in so doing the top is bulged the plunger. As the head continues to descend, and when the convex top portion of the cap has been flattened by the hammer the beveled tip ea acting on the beveled wall of the opening 38, withdraws the coupling36 from the not-ch 14C. The coupling having been withdrawn from the notch l-t in the rod 13 the latter is free to Continue downward to complete its stroke.

When the cap is acted on by the hammer to compress it from the convex to the final flattened state it forces the body of the cork Z) downwardly into the mouth'of the neck, which with the action of the spreading of the annular'crimp c compresses the outer edges of the cork in close contact with upper walls of mouth ofthe bottle. This action effectually seals the bottle, and if the month has any irregularities, or is imperfectly formed the downward and oi'itward pressure of the cork will accommodate itself to the same as if the bottle had been perfeet. hen the corrugations of the cap are first compressed the action of drawing them in, tends to draw the cap downwardly and compresses the outer edges of the cork around the upper edge of the bottle neck. Then when the cap is flattenedthe edges of the cork are held rigid, so that the central portion is compressed when the hammer presses on the top of the cap which completely effects a seal.

Should the bottle .be slightly larger or smaller than normal, obviously the opera tion just .described will take place a trifle before orv after the time of operation on a bottle of normal size. The spring 32 will yield when the cap has been flattened, to avoid breaking of the parts.

Vthen the rod 13 is elevated and the notch 14, reaches the plane of movement of the coupling 38, the end of the latter is forced into the notch by the spring 4:1 and the head 10 is thereby coupled with the rod and is returned to normal position.

When the head is elevated the spring 32 will force the plunger down, and by reason of the space between the hammer 33 and the bushing 30,- said hammer will continue to move downwardly after the spring is seated.

Just prior to the time the head 10, reaches its normal'position the beveled, surface 60, contacts with the beveled end 7 0' of the cam lever 70 and withdraws the dog 51 from the notch47. By the time the dog is completely withdrawn the head 10 is at its normal position, and is held there by the locking action between the beveled surfaces and hen the rod 13 is driven down the upper wall of the notch bears with great frictional force against the end of the coupling 26, when the point 34 of the plunger contacts with the wall of the opening 38, the friction between the coupling and the rod 5.3 must be overcome before the connection between the head and rod is broken; The frictional contact between the head and the rod may be increased or.decreased= by adjusting the screw 12. tightly held in its groove it requires a greater amountof power on the rod to pull the. said sleeve down, in the standard hehbe: the downward pull on the coupling as increased which requires increased power pr pressure of the plunger on said coupling to move the latter. It will therefore beseen that the amount of pressure of the hammer on the cap may be regulated.

What I claim is 1. In a bottle capping machine the com" bination of power operating means, a head operated thereby, bottle capping mechanism mounted in the head, and including a plunger, and a coupling element for coupling and uncoupling the head and the power operating means, said coupling element being in the path of movement of the plunger and. 7

adapted to be struck thereby after a cap has been applied to the bottle to effect the uncoupling operation.

2; In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a reciprocating element, a head operated'thereby, a coupling device between the head and the reciprocating element, bottle capping mechanism and a plunger mounted in the head, said plunger contacting with the coupling element during the operation of applying a cap to retard its movement with the head and to release the coupling and disconnect the head from the reciprocating element after the cap has been applied.

In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a reciprocating power element formed with notch, a head operated by the reciprocating power element, a coupling element engaging in the notch and provided with a beveled surface, capping mechanism and a plunger mounted in the head, said plunger having a beveled surface in alinement with the beveled surface on the coupling element, and adapted to cooperate therewith to retard the movement of the plunger when moved with the head during the capping operation, and to release'the coupling; to disconnect the head from the reciprocating power element after the capping operation has been completed.

4. In a bottle capping machine, thecom? blnation of a head a throat piece mounted in the head, said throat piece having a cylindrical bore with a beveled mouth to crimp If the key 11, is

the edges of a bottle cap on a bottleand arch the top thereof. and a hammer head operating in the cylindrical bore of, the throat piece to flatten the previously arched top of the cap. means for operating the hammer head subsequent to the crimping of the edges of the cap, and mechanism for v cooperating with the latter means for stopbination of power mechanism including a -mechanism mounted in the head, including and means for subsequently flattening the 'connect the head from the reciprocating V mechanism before the latter has completed ping'the movement of the head toward the? bottle after the capping operation is completed.

5. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of power operating mechanism including a reciprocating rod formed with a notch, a head operated by the power operating mechanism, a coupling element engaging the notch and provided with a countersunk opening, capping mechanism mounted in the head and including means for crimping the edges of thecap and means for subsequently flattening the top of the cap, a plunger connected with the means for subsequently flattening the top, said plunger engaging the countersunk opening in the coupling element to withdraw the same from the notch to disconnect the head from the p0wer-0perating mechanism after the capping mechanism has completed its operation.

6. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a reciprocating power rod, a head operated thereby; a coupling element connecting the head and the reciprocating power rod, capping mechanism mounted in the head including means having a movement independently or" the movement of the head for flattening the top of the cap, the movement of the said latter means being retarded by engaging with the coupling element and such engagement with the coupling element releases the head from the re ciprocating power rod.

7 In a bottle capping machine, the combinationwith a reciprocating head, mechanism for reciprocating the head, capping means for crimping the edges of the cap top of the cap, a coupling device operated upon by said latter means to retard the movement of said latter means. and to disa full stroke in one direction, and means for automatically coupling the head and reciprocating mechanism upon the reverse stroke of the latter.

8. In a bottle capping machine, the comreciprocating rod a head reciprocated by the reciprocating rod, a couplingelemcnt for connecting the head to the reciprocating rod, capping mechanism mounted in the head and including a throat piece formed with a cylindrical bore and beveled at its mouth to crimp the lower edges of a cap,

weal

ping operation is completed, and means cooperatin with the power mechanism for automatica ly stopping the head in its normal position. 1

9. Ina capping machine, the combination of a head, capping mechanism mounted in the head including a throat piece formed with a cylindrical bore which merges into a beveled mouth and which is adapted to move over a bottle cap to crimp its lower edges, a hammer fitting in-the cylindrical bore and movable with the head, a plunger connected to the hammer head, operating mechanism and mechanism for retarding the movement of the hammer head in. the head to flatten the top of a cap, said latter mechanism including a coupling for con nccting the head to the operating mechanism and which is adapted to be uncoupled by pressure of the plunger thereon:

' 10. In a capping machine, the combination of a head provided with an internal flange, a throat piecein the head and seated against the flange, said throat 'piece having a cylindrical bore beveled at its edges, a mouth piece secured on the lower end of the head to hold the throat piece against t flange, a plunger provided with a hammer head operating in the cylindrical bore for flattening the top of'the cap, means for operating the head, and means for retardin the movement of the hammer head to e ect the flattening operation, said retarding means including a coupling between the head and operating means and with which the ,upperend of the plunger contacts to uncouple the head from the operating means after the top of the cap is flattened.

11, In a bottle capping machine, thecombination of a head, capping mechanism mounted in'the head, a series ofradially disposed fingers for supporting a cap preparatory to the operation of the capping mechanism, and a single coiled spring arranged on the outside of all the radial fingers to project the same inwardly, the outer ends of the fingers bearing on the periphcry of the'coils of said spring.

12. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a head, capping mechanism mounted in the head, and including a throat piece formed on its circumference with a groove, a plurality of radially disposed fingers mounted in the throat piece adjacent the groove, a coiled springin the groove and engaging each of the fingers to project the latter inwardly to temporarily support a bottle cap.

and means for flattening the top of the cap, the latter means cooperating with the coui pling member to 'edect the flattening opera- E tion and disconnect the head tromthe reciprocating rod means for automatically operating the coupling member to connect the 13.; In 'a bottle capping machine, the condbination of power mechanism including a reciprocating ,rod formed with a notch, a

head mounted on and operated by the rod, f a slidingcoupling mounted in the head and I engaging the notch to connect thghead and head and reciprocating rodafter the capfl'rod, said couplihg having a countersunk opening, capping mechanism mounted in the head including means for crimping the edges of a cap, and a hammer for flattening the cap, a plunger attached to the hammer and provided with a pointed upper end located under the wall of the countersunk opening and adapted to engage the same to successively operate the hammer and withdraw the coupling from the notch, a spring in the head to eject the capped bottle from the throat piece, and means for automatically returning the coupling to connect the head and rod.

14. In a bottle capping machine, the com bination of power mechanism including a reclprocating rod formed with a notch, a head mounted on and operated by the rod,

a sliding coupling mounted in the head and engaging the notch to connect the .head and rod, said coupling having a countersunk 2 opening, capplng mechanism mounted in the head including means .for crimping the edges of a cap, and ahammer for flattening the cap, a plunger attached to the hammer and provided with a pointed upper end located under and normally spaced from the wall of the countersunk opening, a flange in the,

head, a bushing mounted on the plunger and held against the flange, a spring engaging the bushing to eject a'capped bottle from the throat piece, the pointed end of the plunger engaging the wall of the countersunk opening to successively operate the hammer and withdraw the coupling from the notch and means for automatically operating the coupling to engage the notch after the cappingoperation is completed.

15. In acapping machine, the combination of a head provided with an internal flange, a bushing supported on the flange, a throat piece mounted in the head below the flange and having a cylindrical bore, a 'hammer head operating in the bore and nor mally spaced from the bushing, a plunger extending up from the hammer head and passing throughthe bushing and pointed at its upper end, a'coupling having .a beveled opening the point of the plunger being spaced t rom and under the wall of the beveled opening, whereby the cylindrical bore will crimp the edge of a cap before the point of the plunger contacts with the wall of the beveled opening, a spring bearing on the bushing to ejecta capped bottle, a reciprocating rod for operating the head and having a notch with which the coupling engagesgthe engagement of the point of the plunger with the beveled wall of the opening withdrawing the coupling from the notch and disconnecting the head from the r d.

16. In a bottle capping machine the combination of a standard formed with an opening, a reciprocating rod 0 crating in the opening, a sleeve on the rod aving a groove therein, a key fitting in the groove, a screw passing through the standard and engaging the key to regulate the pressure of the same against the walls of the groove, a head supported on the sleeve, capping mechanism mounted in the head, including a hammer and plunger and a coupling in the hea'd;,to connect the latter and the rod, said coupling I having a beveled surface with which thewe'nd pf the lunger'engages to operate the hammer an operate the coupling to disconnect thefhead and rod.

17. In a bottle. capping machine, the com-- v binationwith operating means including a "reciprocating rod formed with a notch, a'

head carried by the'reciprocating r0d, capping mechanism supported in the head and including a plunger formed with a beveled. end, a coupling mounted on the head and fitting in the notch to connect the head with the reciprocating rod, said coupling'having a beveled seat with which the beveled end ct the plunger engages to withdrawthe c011 pling from the notch, and. means for automatically returning the coupling to engage the notch after the capping operation ii completed.

18. In a bottle capping machine, the combinationwith operating means including a reciprocating rod formed with a notch,

head carried by the reciprocating rod, cap ping mechanism supported in the head and including a plunger formed with a beveled the reciprocating rod, said coupling having a beveled seat with which the beveled end of the plunger engages towithdraw the coupling from the notch, adjusuble mea'ns'lfor increasingthe friction between the coupling and the reciprocating rod. A

19. In a bottle capping machine, the ,combination with operating means including a reciprocating ro ciprocatingrod, capping mechanism supported in the head and including a pliln er having a beveled portion, a coupling etween the head and the reciprocating rod, the said coupling being in the path of move ment of the plunger and moved thereby out a head carried by the re end, .a coupling mounted on the head and fitting in-the notch to connect the head with- 

